Food & Benefits Program Manager

Food & Benefits Program Manager

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

17338

Department

Public Health Services

Division

Health Prevention & Coordinated Care

Opening Date

10/12/2026

Closing Date

11/9/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

If you're looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Our Values:

HCPH embraces a foundation of progressive work anchored by the departments cornerstone values guiding our work to improve communitys health and well-being.

• Transparency- We share information openly and honestly so that staff, partners, and the community understand our actions and the reasons behind them.
• Integrity- Our actions reflect strong ethical principles, ensuring we remain trustworthy, accountable, and consistent with our mission.
• Respect - We foster a supportive environment by valuing diverse perspectives, listening intentionally, and treating people with dignity in every interaction.
• Impact -We focus our efforts on activities that improve health, reduce disparities, and create meaningful, measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
• Collaboration- We actively partner across teams, disciplines, organizations, and communities to align our efforts toward common goals.

Position Overview:

The Food and Benefits Program Manager will provide strategic, operational, and administrative oversight of a comprehensive program designed to improve access to nutritious food and public benefits for community members. The program includes three primary areas of service delivery: food distribution; development and implementation of screening and referral pathways to address food insecurity; and public benefits enrollment and resource navigation services provided through the HCPH Connect team. This position will be responsible for ensuring effective execution of programs and services, maintaining alignment with organizational priorities and strategic goals, monitoring performance against established key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives, and fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure programs achieve intended outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide operational and administrative oversight of the Food and Benefits Program, ensuring the effective planning, implementation, coordination, and execution of food distribution and public benefits enrollment initiatives in alignment with organizational priorities and program requirements.
• Oversee and monitor program performance and service delivery across food distribution and public benefits enrollment services provided through the HCPH Connect team; Maintains documentation of program activities and outcomes and provides accurate and timely reporting of each programs status and performance; Maintains a process for program evaluation and improvement.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to establish and maintain strategic alignment across programs. Convenes appropriate food and nutrition community partners and stakeholders to develop and implement streamlined screening and referral pathways to address food insecurity within Harris County.
• Ensure program data is accurately and confidentially obtained, tracked, and compiled as well as easy to reproduce and present; Develops well-crafted reports and presentations as needed.
• Assist with budget preparation and monitoring of financial performance to ensure programs are meeting or exceeding budgetary commitment and expectations. Partner with Finance and program leadership to ensure resources are appropriately allocated and managed.
• Monitor grant performance, coordinates financial and grants management activities, distributing information for grant programs, grant award analysis and reconciliations, and other related duties as needed.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or emailADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• Masters degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Business, Social Work or related field.

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of health care management and supervisory experience with hands-on experience in personnel management, budget planning and fiscal control.

Licensure/Certifications:

• Valid Texas drivers license.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Knowledge of public health practice, especially as it relates to working with vulnerable or underserved populations.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and ability to multi-task and adjust priorities as needed.
• Self-directed with a high degree of critical thinking, independent judgment, problem solving ability.
• Ability to analyze and report complex financial information to reach sound conclusions and make practical recommendations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.
• Ability to work well with public and staff members.
• Must use your personal mobile device for our Multifactor Authentication process.

Core Competencies:

• Data Analytics and Assessment Skills: Ability to use data to analyze community health needs and support decisions that improve community health outcomes.

• Communication Skills: This competency focuses on using clear and effective communication to engage audiences, address misinformation, and build trust, supporting informed decisions and stronger public health outcomes.

• Health Advancement Skills:This competency focuses on applying principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion to public health, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting fair access to resources for healthier communities.

• Community Partnership Skills: This competency focuses on collaborating with communities to address the systems and policies affecting health, fostering engagement, shared ownership, and sustainable improvements in well-being.

• Public Health Science Skills:This competency focuses on using public health science and evidence-based approaches to develop and improve policies and programs, ensuring effective delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

• Management and Finance Skills: This competency focuses on managing human and financial resources, promoting equity and collaboration, and optimizing organizational performance to support effective public health programs.

• Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills: This competency focuses on aligning stakeholders, fostering innovation, and managing change to implement effective public health initiatives that strengthen community health.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Experience:

• Experience with grant management.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position.
• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm.
• Other days and hours as necessary.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

• This role requires medium physical effort; some duties require handling of average-weight objects up to 20 pounds or some standing, walking, and bending.

Work Location:

• Harris County Public Health: Health Prevention & Coordinated Care Division - 1111 Fannin St. Houston, Texas. 77002.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or Equivalent
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher
• N/A; No Degree

02

If you selected a degree in response to the previous question, which of the following disciplines best relates to your degree most relevant to this position?

• Health Administration
• Public Health
• Business
• Social Work
• Other Related Field
• Non-Related Field
• N/A; No Degree

03

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in health care management and supervisory experience with hands-on experience in personnel management, budget planning and fiscal control. (To be considered, the qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history)

• Less than three (3) years
• Three (3) years or more.
• I do not have this experience.

04

Please provide details about your verifiable experience with grant management DO NOT USE "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history) Please include your (a) roles, (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities, (d) employment dates (ex. MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY). If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

05

Please provide details about your verifiable experience in health care management and supervisory experience with hands-on experience in personnel management, budget planning and fiscal control DO NOT USE "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history) Please include your (a) roles, (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities, (d) employment dates (ex. MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY). If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

06

This role requires a Valid Drivers License (Texas upon hire). Do you have a Valid Drivers License?

• I have a valid Texas driver's license.
• I have a valid driver's license from another state but can obtain a Texas license upon hire.
• I do not have a valid driver's license.

Required Question

Employer Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx